How tools shape the game authoring process

Abstract: This study aims to answer how Interactive Digital Narrative authoring tools shape the authoring process. Any tool or software shapes the way its users interact with it, oftentimes without the user even knowing it. It is therefore important to understand how these processes work when talking about authoring tools for IDNs, as they will inevitably shape its output. Three authoring tools were selected, those three being TextureWriter, Scrivener, and Twine. A standardized Game Design Document was created, and four participants were recruited to use those three authoring tools to adapt said Game Design Document. A focus group was conducted after the participants had used their tools for a fair amount of time to ascertain their authoring process experience. In the end, the participant using Twine did not attend the focus group, prohibiting evaluation of that tool. The results showed that there are a number of previously unknown ways in which the two evaluated authoring tools shape the game authoring process: Fundamental structure, temporal structure, spatial structure, presentation structure, mechanics of interaction, and multimedia inclusion. The results also showed a strong correlation between a master narrative and in how the authoring tool limited the author.